Printing your own business cards at home is one way to save money on one of your company’s basic expenses. Start up businesses often need to watch expenditures, but DIY business cards may not be the solution. Consider the pros and cons of printing at home before you decide. For pennies difference, you may find yourself saving face, which can be more valuable than saving money!
The true purpose of your business card is to get people to remember WHO you are, WHAT you do, and then to contact you for business. You will want a card that easily conveys these things, and a card that wont get thrown into the lateral file at first opportunity!
As far as marketing materials go, a business card is the most cost effective piece of marketing material you will ever invest in. Remember that when you go to order them, they are your direct link with your prospects. Here a re a few things to keep in mind when deciding on your business cards:
- Make sure your card stands out! – Color, texture, paper stock, foil – these are all tools available for you to utilize in making your card unique, and memorable!
- Present a good quality card – Don’t cut corners on the quality of your cards. You might save a few bucks, but in the long run, a business card that you printed from home might turn off a possible business prospect! Things like paper weight and texture speak to the card quality, and also to how serious you are about your business. If you hold a card in your hand and it is flimsy thin with perforation around the edges, it sends a subliminal message.
- Size matters! – Standard business cards are 2.5″ x 3″. If you hand out a card that is much larger than that, it likely will get disposed of rather than saved… it doesnt fit in a wallet or card holder well.
- Layout – It is not necessary to have a professional design your card, but do be conscientious of your brand image with this piece of collateral. Utilize your company logo, colors and fonts in a clean concise way that makes it easy for people to tell what you do. Make sure the type size is large enough to be read!
- What do you do? – Make sure that’s on your card too! When people leave a meeting they may not remember in a week or so exactly what it is they were holding this card for – and if its not clear its likely going in the trash.
- PASS THEM OUT! – Yes you are investing in them but they do you no good if they never leave your desk. Even on the expensive side, business cards are about .05 – .12 cents each. A minimal marketing expense when you consider the potential for new business!
While your business card is only one piece of the collateral in your marketing toolbox, it is your most direct link with prospects. Be sure that your card conveys the quality of your business and services, and that it reinforces your brand imaging.
For help creating or reinforcing your brand, contact
Amy Keel
amy@gotschwag.com
Marketing Solutions You can TRUST!
